Police Incident Reports A Selection of Noteworthy Incident Reports

Incidents listed are selected by the Officer In Charge of each shift that may have significant public interest.
Incidents listed are not inclusive of all incidents. To view Calls for Services information, please visit CrimeReports.com. Requests for information can be directed to the MPD Records Unit: (608) 266-4075.

Incident Report for Case #2013-212633

Incident Type

Information

Incident Date

07/14/2013 - 9:17 AM

Address

Elmside Blvd.

Update

And now for the rest of the story: Vanessa, a music connoisseur of sorts, learned from a friend of the briefcase discovery. When she heard the titles of some of the music, she knew immediately it was her collection, one she started back in high school. A thief had swiped it from her car Saturday night after she parked it on Center Ave. The fleeing crook evidently took a peek in the case and determined there was nothing of value; however, to the contrary, Vanessa would argue her collection is priceless. She is grateful that the responding MPD officer recognized its value. Vanessa came by the MPD's Property Room to be reunited with her music Friday morning. For the record: it does contain some blues artists, their tunes were presented to her by her father.

Last updated 07/19/2013 at 2:02 PM by PIO Joel DeSpain

Details

Jake wasn't around, and there were no signs of Elwood, but on top of a storm grate, where Elmside Blvd. meets Sommers Ave., there was definitely a briefcase full of blues; well not just blues but lots of genres.

A MPD officer was dispatched to the location Sunday morning after a concerned resident reported seeing a "small black suitcase." Call notes from the Dane County Public Communication Center indicated the woman caller "attempted to move the suitcase, but found that it was kind of heavy." She thought this suspicious enough to summon police.

The responding officer quickly found the caller knew of what she spoke: "I picked up the briefcase ... and found it heavier than I expected upon seeing it," the officer wrote in her report.

She opened the case, and did not quickly spot any Blues Brothers, but marveled at nearly 40 other cassette tapes: some mixed and some original copies. It was a true treasure trove, at least for those with the appropriate discerning ears, and the responding officer had two.

"As a child of the 1980's, I immediately recognized the possible significance of this case to the individual who misplaced it." She could see some Slash, They Might Be Giants, Jane's Addiction among so many others.

"As I was examining the musical selection, a family of three (including a 4-year old girl) walked toward me." The officer explained what was going on, held up one of the oldies but goodies to the child, and asked if she knew what this was? "A mixed tape!" shouted the youngster as her parents "beamed with pride." The officer knew they were "instructing her in the finer things in life."

The officer went door to door in the neighborhood seeing if anyone knew of someone missing such a wonderful musical briefcase. No one did, so she secured the valued collection in an evidence locker.